Sigma

Product Line Description: 

The sigma range of tents are single-wall designs made from our unique X-tex fabric that utilizes 37.5 activated carbon technology in the waterproof coating. This absorbs condensation, prevents water droplets from forming, and continues to breathe. 

Single-wall tents have always been a rarity in trekking. The age-old problem of condensation has traditionally inhibited their mainstream use. The sigma range uses a new fabric technology that effectively resolves this fundamental issue. The benefits of single-wall tents are three-fold. First, using the same pole-lengths as a double-wall tent, they are much more spacious: the gap between inner and flysheet becomes part of your internal space. Second, by disposing of the inner-wall, you are eliminating a lot of fabric and therefore, saving weight. Finally, they are simpler to pitch: there is no two-step process or need for any kind of connection between inner and flysheet. As a consequence, not only are our new sigma tents incredibly light, but they are also extraordinarily spacious. These tents are optimised for trekking and feature a large porch for storage and easy access. Inside they have generous headroom making for comfortable living. Pitching is simple and quick, and the tents are virtually free-standing and require minimal pegging.

However, as a caveat, we must remind potential customers that these are still single-wall tents and that they have limitations. In periods of prolonged rain, the X-tex fabric can reach its saturation point after which condensation has nowhere else to go but run down the seams and pool on the floor, so they are not ideal for very wet climates. Also important to consider is the ratio of X-tex fabric to internal volume - the S10 has the highest, followed by the S15 and S20. The S22, having two porches, is the most vulnerable by far as not only is the trapped volume greater, but there is no back wall of X-tex fabric. These are excellent all-round tents that can easily withstand heavy downpours and very wet weather - but not for an extended period where humidity trapped inside can just build and finally exceed the capacity of the X-tex fabric to absorb it.

Price:
Persons:
Weight:
Packed size:
Colours:

£599 / €649
1
1.115 kg
45 x 12 cm
Wilderness Green
Black

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Price:
Persons:
Weight:
Packed size:
Colours:

£649 / €699
1
1.32 kg
50 x 15 cm
Wilderness Green
Black/Green

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Price:
Persons:
Weight:
Packed size:
Colours:

£699 / € 749
2
1.75 kg
45 x 18 cm
Wilderness Green
Black/Green

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Price:
Persons:
Weight:
Packed size:
Colours:

£749 / €799
2
1.725 kg
50 x 16 cm
Wilderness Green
Black

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Specifications: 

Flysheet

60 g/m² 20d nylon ripstop (S10 & S22), 70 g/m² 20d nylon ripstop (S15 & S20)
X-tex coating 20,000 mm hydrostatic head
Multiple guypoints
Continuous pole sleeves

The sigma tents are defined by the X-tex fabric used for the flysheet. This is unique to Lightwave and has an astonishing ability to manage the condensation that has plagued single-wall tent designs in the past. The X-tex fabric is heavier than most flysheets due to its coating, but the result is a hydrostatic head (i.e. waterproofness) that is far higher than the standard 3000-5000 mm found in nearly all tents. The coating always feels dry to the touch and is also quite light impermeable.

The original sigma models - S15 and S20 - have a heavier fabric than the newer S10 and S22 models, even though they are all 20d.

Porch wall

51 g/m2, 20d nylon 6.6 ripstop,
Silicon-coated on both sides, 3000 mm hydrostatic head

The porch of the sigma tents uses the same lightweight silicon-coated fabric used on our hyper and ultra ranges. Silicon-coated fabrics are the most durable and long-lasting available, particularly when minimum weight is also an important criterion.

Groundsheet

70 g/m² 40d ripstop nylon
TPU-laminated with 10,000 mm hydrostatic head
Bath-tub construction with reinforced corners and taped seams

The sigma groundsheet is made from a durable 40-denier taffeta. The 40-denier fabric is a reasonable balance between the need to save weight and provide adequate protection from abrasion and moisture. With most of our tents, we don’t generally advocate the use of a footprint, but we recommend this where it is appropriate to do so – in other words, when you know ground conditions are going to be harsh, or carrying the extra weight is not so critical.

Inner wall

25g/m2, 20d nylon 6.6 ripstop, DWR treated
Mesh window

Poles

DAC Featherlite (aluminium alloy)

S10/S15 8.70 mm
S20/S22 9.35 mm

We use the DAC Featherlite poles on the sigma tents simply because these have proved themselves time and again as the most reliable of the lighter weight alloys (ie non 7001-T6 alloy which is employed in probably 90% of all backpacking tents in the world.)

Pegs

Lightning pegs, 11 g each, square section
Flash pegs, 7 g each, rectangular section

Pegs are very important – without them, no tent could withstand anything more than the slightest breeze. Sigma tents use our Lightning peg – similar in weight to most standard pegs, but substantially stronger and capable of living with some serious abuse. Costing four times as much as normal wire pegs, these are seldom seen on all but the most highly specified and expensive tents. Supplementing these for non-critical peg-points are our Flash pegs (which are literally “half a Lightning" peg).

Guylines

2.00 mm nylon, 3 m length, Linelok adjusters

Sigma guylines are made of standard 2.0 mm nylon. They work, and with our Linelok adjusters they work and adjust very well.

Length
Width
Height
Porch

215 cm
70 cm
95 cm
60 cm

Length
Width
Height
Porch

230 cm
95 cm
110 cm
70 cm

Length
Width
Height
Porch

230 cm
145 cm
110 cm
75 cm

Length
Width
Height
Porch

230 cm
130 cm
110 cm
2 x 60 cm

  • TGO / Chris Townsendhttp://www.tgomagazine.co.uk/gear-editors-column/chriss-column-lightwave-s20-sigma-single-skin-tent/Revolutionary new products don’t come along very often but I think Lightwave have one with the fabric for their new Sigma range... When I heard that Lightwave had a new fabric that overcame the condensation problem I must admit I was dubious, having been disappointed by such claims before. However after three nights in damp rainy weather I am pleased to say that I’m very impressed. This new fabric really does work. ...12th July 2017
  • UKC / UKHhttps://www.ukhillwalking.com/gear/review.php?id=9073Wind, rain or shine, this is the most weather-resilient solo tent I've ever used, hands down. In the S10 Sigma I've never suffered from wet walls or drips. Even when it's raining and fairly humid outside, the inside wall of the tent feels strangely dry to the touch. It's not the last word in ultralight shelters, but for its weight you would struggle to find a sturdier or more spacious solo tent, and as such the S10 Sigma's c.1300g is more than reasonable. Stable and confidence inspiring in bad weather, and built to last, this superb wee tent is well up to any three season use, and I'd say also has a place in the winter mountains. 15th August 2017
  • Trail / Graham ThompsonTrail Magazine 2017, First look - Graham ThompsonSeptember 2017Download
Pitching Overview: 

One of the benefits of single-wall tents is that they are easy and quick to pitch and take down. Effectively, the sigma tents are pitched “flysheet first” as this is the only way – there is no separate inner. The poles are inserted into the flysheet and sprung into place, and the tent is then pegged out.